Radiator or gas tank cap lock



Dec. 7, 1937. T. SCHELLINGER RADIATOR OR GAS TANK CAP LOCK Filed May 20, 1955 I N V EN TOR. kaaaar 56%6/5 22467.

'7 9 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Theodor Schellinger, Detroit, Mich., assignor to C. H. Oshei, Detroit, Mich.

Application May 20,

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to locking mechanism for container caps, and more particularly to locking mechanism for the caps of vehicle fuel tanks or radiators, or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cap lock for containers, which may be remotely controlled, and in which the locking mechanism is not visible or accessible from the exterior.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cap lock for containers which may readily be applied to existing spout and cap constructions.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cap lock for containers which permits the cap to be applied regardless of whether the lock parts are in locked or unlocked positions.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cap lock for containers comprising a bolt supported on thespout and slidable along the longitudinal axis thereof, and positioned to cooperate with one or more lugs positioned on the inside of the cap.

It is also an object of the present invention to 26 provide a cap lock of the last mentioned type in which a plurality of lugs are positioned within the cap, permitting the cap to be installed and locked in any of a plurality of rotative positions with respect to the spout.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cap lock for containers in which the bolt is secured to the spout by a member which encircles and may be fitted to existing spout constructions.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cap lock of the above mentioned type, in which the locking mechanism is rendered effective upon an initial rotative movement of the cap with respect to the spout.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a cap lock for containers, embodying features of the above mentioned types, and which may be conveniently controlled from the interior of a vehicle.

Other objects and advantages of the present construction appear in the following description and in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation, with certain of the parts shown in section, of a locking mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in horizontal section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view, with certain of the 1935, Serial No. 22,323

parts shown in sections, of certain of the elements shown in Fig. 1; and,

Fig. 4 is a View in vertical section, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Automobile gas tank caps and radiator caps are illustrative of the use which may be made of the present invention. These constructions commonly comprise a cylindrical spout upon which a cap may be rotatably secured. In certain constructions, the cap is threaded onto the spout. In other constructions fingers are secured to the interior of the cap, and cooperate with camming surfaces formed on the interior or exterior of the spout. As the cap is turned, the fingers ride along the camming surfaces, drawing the cap securely into engagement with the spout.

In accordance with the present invention, a lock bolt is slidably supported on the spout, and is normally biased to a position in the path of a cooperating lug attached to the underside of the cap. Preferably a plurality of such lugs are provided, permitting the cap to be applied in any one of a plurality of positions with respect to the spout. If desired, the lugs and bolt may have a camming relationship so that upon rotation of the cap in a directionto secure it to the spout, 2. lug passes over the bolt. Upon rotation of the cap in the opposite direction, however, the bolt engages a cooperating lug and limits such rotation. The arrangement is preferably such that the bolt is rendered effective to lock the cap after a small amount of rotation of the latter in a direction to secure it to the spout. With this arrangement it is not necessary to the locking action that the cap be turned to its limiting position with respect to the spout.

In accordance with the usual present construction of automobiles, the gas tank and radiator spouts are substantially concealed by cooperating aprons. The gas tank and radiator caps are commonly provided with shoulders which extend beyond the cooperating spouts, so that, upon application of the cap, the spout is substantially concealed. With this construction, and in accordance with the present invention, the bolt may be positioned on the outside of the spout, between the spout and the cooperating apron, without requiring alteration therein. The lugs may be positioned in the cap shoulder portions of the cooperating cap in a relatively simple manner. As will be apparent from later descriptions, when assembled in this manner the parts may be entirely concealed and inaccessible.

In accordance with the present invention, also, the lock bolt may be positioned for actuation by a remotely located member, which preferably takes the form of a handle conveniently positioned with respect to the dash or instrument panel, and is connected to the bolt through a sheathed flexible member.

Referring to the drawing, the assembly comprises generally a hollow cylindrical spout I0, associated with a container (not shown) in any conventional manner; a cooperating cap designated generally II; and locking structure comprising a bolt I2 and cooperating lugs I 3.

In accordance with conventional construction, the upper end of spout I 0 may be turned in to form an annular channel I4. As best shown in Fig. 2, the horizontal surface of channel I4 and the inner vertical surface thereof are cut away at diametrically opposite points I5, to form openings to receive the fingers I6 associated with cap I I, and later described. As shown at IT, in Fig. 1, the lower edges of the inner vertical surfaces of channel I4 are angularly disposed, and include vertical stop sections I8.

The symmetrically disposed fingers I6 may be secured in any suitable manner, as by rivets I9, to a cylindrical member 20, having sloping shoulder portions 2I and which is permanently secured to cap II in any suitable manner as by welding, brazing or riveting.

When cap II and spout ID are in assembled relationship, a packing ring 22, suitably secured to member 20 bears against the upper surface of channel I4, and provides a hydraulically tight joint. A tight joint is also promoted by making the outside diameter of member 20 just slightly less than the inside diameter of channel I4. When in applied position, cap I I is slightly spaced from an illustrative apron 23, which surrounds and conceals the remainder of spout In.

As will be understood, in applying cap I I to spout I0, it is turned so that the fingers I6 register with opening I5, and is thereafter turned, causing the upper edges of fingers I6 to ride along the sloping surfaces H. The sloping character of surfaces I'I, cams cap I I downwardly, bringing packing ring 22 solidly into engagement with channel I4. With the construction illustrated and as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, a clockwise rotation of cap I I is required. As will be obvious, the parts may be oppositely related. In removing cap I I, it is turned in the opposite direction until fingers I6 register with openings I5, at which time cap II may be freely removed. It will be noted that fingers IB are symmetrically disposed and as previously described, the diametrically opposed parts of channel I4 are symmetrically constructed. With this arrangement, it will be understood that cap I I may be initially applied from either of two positions spaced degrees apart.

The parts thus far described are conventional, and are illustrative of any spout and cap construction in which the cap is applied by rotating it about the spout.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, bolt I2 is slidably guided in a sleeve 25, which passes through apron 23, and may be permanently secured to a ring 26 in any suitable manner, as by brazing, welding or otherwise. Ring 26 fits freely over the end of spout I0, and may be secured thereto by set screws 21.

When in projected position, as shown in Fig. 1, bolt I2 extends into the path of one or the other of two diametrically opposed lugs I3, which are secured to the underside of cap I I in any suitable manner. As will be understood, one lug I3 cooperates with bolt I2 when cap I I is applied from one position, and the other lug I3 cooperates with bolt I2 when cap I I is applied from the other position. As previously mentioned, the undersides of lugs I3 may be sloping, so that upon rotation of cap I I in a clockwise direction, with reference to Fig. 2 or 3, they are permitted to pass freely over bolt I2. Upon rotation of cap II in the opposite direction, however, bolt I2 is engaged by the vertical forward face of a lug I3. This engagement prevents rotation of cap I I to a position in which fingers I5 register with openings i5. Lugs I3 are preferably positioned within cap I i so that only a limited amount of rotation of cap I I from the released position is required to move a lug I3 beyond the position of bolt I2. With this arrangement, the lock is rendered effective even though cap I I is not turned to the extreme position with respect to spout II].

As illustrated, the actuating means for bolt I2 comprises a steel wire 30 which is looped through a lug 3I formed in bolt I2, and through a similar lug 32 formed in the shank 33 of an operating handle 34. Wire 30 is preferably sheathed in a flexible conduit 35. Conduit 35 is suitably secured to sleeve 25 by soldering or welding, for example, at the point 36, and is similarly secured at point 31 to a sleeve 38 within which shank 33 is slidably received. A spring 39 is seated between the end of bolt l2 and the end of conduit 35, and biases bolt I2 to the extended or locking position.

Sleeve 38 may be threaded into any convenient supporting surface 40, preferably associated with the automobile dash or instrument panel, and is provided with an interior key-way M which receives a cooperating key 42 formed integrally with shank 33. As will be understood, withdrawal of handle 34 from sleeve 38 draws bolt I2 inwardly against the force of spring 39, unlocking cap I2, and also moves key 42 out of key-way 4I. When in the withdrawn position, handle 34 may be rotated slightly, moving key 42 out of registration with key-way 4I. When handle 34 is in the rotated position, key 42 thus maintains bolt I2 in the retracted position.

If handle 34 is returned to the original position, with key 42 in registration with key-way 4I, spring 39 is rendered effective to force bolt I2 to the extended position, and to return handle 34 to the illustrated position in which it bears against the forward face of sleeve 33.

From the foregoing it is seen that the locking structure comprising bolt I2 and. the cooperating lugs I3 may be applied to an existing conventional construction without substantial modification of the latter. The ring 265, which supports bolt I2, may be conveniently secured to the spout III by means which are readily accessible when cap II is removed, but are inaccessible when the latter is applied to spout Iii. The effectiveness of the locking action does not require accurate positioning of lug I3, and by suitably forming lugs I3, cap II may be applied while bolt I2 is in either the extended or retracted position. The use of a plurality of lugs I3 permits the cap to be applied from a corresponding plurality of positions. Key-way 4| and key 42 associated with handle 34, or functionally equivalent construction, permit the locking mechanism to be rendered effective and ineffective at will.

Although a specific embodiment of the present invention has been described, it will be evident that various modifications may be made in the form, number and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The described embodiment accordingly is to be considered in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with a container spout and a cap securable over the end thereof, said cap having a skirt portion which projects outwardly from and in spaced relation to said spout with a marginal skirt portion lying closely adjacent said spout, of a locking keeper positioned within said cap, a retractable bolt associated with said keeper, and means for slidably supporting said bolt on said spout for movement into and out of the path of said keeper, comprising a member disposed to surround said spout and positioned within said bolt to lock said cap in place, and means concealed within said skirt portion of said cap for supporting said bolt upon said spout.

THEODOR SCHELLINGER. 

